Lesson Learned During The Sacrament Prayer

During the Sacrament (the blessing and passing of the bread and water which are symbols of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us) I was listening more intently to the sacrament prayers. The prayer to bless the water can be found in Moroni 5:2 “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

I started to reflect on the words “that they may witness unto thee... that they do always remember Him, that they may have His spirit to be with them.” I always new that participating in sacrament meeting was part of keeping my covenant of remembering Christ, but I had often wondered about those who tried to follow the Savior, but didn't come to church and partake of the sacrament. I thought they still are remembering Christ and while they are not getting the promised blessings from renewing their covenants, they can still be keeping their covenants. This prayer helped me to realize that more important than the thoughts and intents of my heart are my actions. Our actions witness of our true thoughts and intents. We witness where we stand and what we love, good or evil, to our Heavenly Father through our actions.

I had always been taught that my deeds mattered, and I've always believed that they do. This helps me understand why. More than what I profess to know or even what I think or feel, if I can't witness to God through my actions that I'm on His side, then I'm not really on His side. Something else is more important, more pressing for me than doing what He wants, which keeps me from giving Him my whole heart. This is what God requires of me, my whole heart and I witness to Him that I have given it or have held it back from Him through my actions.

I think of the ruler who came to Christ and asked what he needed to do for eternal life. Christ answered 20”Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich” (Luke 18:18-23). What the ruler lacked was willingness to give his whole heart to Christ. He witnessed his lack when he went away sorrowing, knowing he couldn't do what was asked of him.

When we give our heart the blessings from obedience flow, just as the prayer says “that they may always have His spirit to be with them.” This blessing comes after the witness of our willingness through partaking of the sacrament weekly. I think of the blessings Christ had waiting for the ruler after he gave a witness of his willing heart, and wonder how often blessings are held back from me because I witnessed an unwilling heart like the ruler did.

I hope and pray that I can witness to my Heavenly Father of my willing heart by daily praying to Him and reading His words, by being kind to all those around me, by reaching out and opening my mouth to speak His words, by weekly partaking of the Sacrament, by doing my visiting teaching, by attending the temple, by keeping my covenants. I hope my actions will witness of my willing heart in the end, that I might be received into His kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Disputing the Changing Doctrine Argument

I hope these are my last words on this subject, but who knows. The subject keeps coming back into public light. While arguing for the ordination of women to the priesthood many call upon other doctrine that has changed for reference and claim it is only a matter of time until this doctrine changes too. Anything is possible and if the prophet tomorrow said they were going to start ordaining woman, I would say okay.

However, I do want to address changing doctrine. Let's start with polygamy since it was the first thing "changed" in this dispensation. First, polygamy is not completely done away with. A man may be sealed to more than one wife and they all will be his in the eternities. What is no longer practiced is polygamy for the living. The doctrine had to be restored for the restoration of all things, that did not mean it had to continue to be practiced forever. The Book of Mormon teaches “For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;

28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”

God commanded that those things be restored and when seed had been raised up and the gospel was spreading throughout this nation and to others, He said now live the law of one wife. I do not see this as doctrine being changed, it is all doctrine we lived one doctrine and when it was fulfilled we lived another.  I am not disputing that there was pressure from the government to change, of course there was.  What I believe is that when we started living the one wife doctrine instead of the plural wives, it was because the purposes for restoring the plural marriage doctrine had been fulfilled.  

Now let's discuss blacks and the priesthood. I do not have a lot of knowledge on this subject, but from what I gather from the scriptures, blacks today are not the seed of Cain, which some people have believed. This belief is strange to me, because from my scripture study it seems to me that Cain's seed was destroyed in the flood during Noah's time. I haven't found any other evidence that would say otherwise. After the flood Noah's son Ham was cursed with a skin of blackness and inherited the land of Canaan.  22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren” (Genesis 9:22-25). “...and thus, from Ham, sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land” (Abraham 1:24). This, to me, seems the likely ancestry for blacks today.  But I don't really think the ancestry matters anyway.  The Lamanites, who were a cursed people, were taught the gospel and at one point became more righteous than the Nephites.  Cursings were not meant to be permanent from one generation to another.  Every one has the chance of choosing Christ and following Heavenly Father's prescribed way.  Christ's Atoning Sacrifice encompasses all men and all have a chance to repent.  All can be cleansed and reach their full potential.  

I only have an opinion about this, but it seems likely it was because of the feelings of the people as a whole in the country and around the world. If you look at our history it took many many years after laws were changed to discourage discrimination that discrimination actually began to lessen. Laws went in place after the civil war and more in the 1950's yet not until the late 60's and early 70's did we start to see equality. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints allowed blacks to hold the priesthood in the late 70's. So did culture and people's belief have something to do with this change? I believe it did, are there patterns of this type of change in the scriptures? I believe there is. When Christ was asked about divorce this was His answer “4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4-8). 

Some practices are in place because of the culture and people and the hardness of our hearts. The Book of Mormon teaches that all are alike unto God.

“33 ... and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” Once we could start to feel that the doctrines in the Book of Mormon were true and the culture around the world changed, this change that had been prayed for, for years, was able to be brought to pass. It was not doctrine that was changed but a pattern of practice.

So now let's explore ordaining women. Is there a pattern for ordaining woman in the scriptures? I have not seen any. Some argue that because Deborah was a Judge in Israel and had the Spirit of Prophesy that she must have been ordained to the priesthood. I do not believe this to be true. There was much wickedness in the time of the Judges. Deborah was a righteous woman given a calling, which according to Elder Oaks is priesthood authority and she was working under the keys that were on the earth at the time. She had influence on those around her even the men and she had a gift of the spirit, or power. Gifts of the Spirit or power in the Priesthood are available to all men, women, and children who have made and kept covenants with God. We all are entitled to the gifts of the spirit. I can point to many stories in the scriptures and in pioneer times when woman had been given these gifts and this power. I do not believe any of them were ordained to offices in the priesthood, the pattern in the scriptures is that this priesthood was passed from father to son. “  40 The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.

 41 This order was instituted in the days of Adam....” Doctrine and Covenants 107: 40-41.

I guess none of this really matters though. What matters is God has restored everything in this dispensation that we need to return to Him and save our ancestors. He has not kept anything from us that we would need to reach our eternal destination, nor would He. If priesthood ordination is given to woman by God great, if it is not ever given to us great as well, because more important than being ordained to the priesthood is the power of the priesthood and that is mine to enjoy and call upon if I will make and keep sacred covenants. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

My treasure

Thirty eight years ago today, a baby boy entered this world. He was born in Murray, Utah to an English mother and an American Father. He grew up on a farm where he learned the blessing of hard work. He was taught to be respectful, hardworking, dedicated, and compassionate. When he was about 16 he moved away from the farm town he loved, from his friends and his high school, and from the area of Utah he'd always known.

His family moved to a small town in southern Utah called Hurricane. He didn't want to move, he was happy where he was, he had just started high school and didn't want to have to find all new friends. He really didn't have a choice in the matter, but his father tried to ease the worry and anxiety by telling him he would most likely meet the girl he would marry there. At 16 that wasn't much comfort for him, but he left all he'd ever known to go to Hurricane. I met this wonderful young man soon after his family moved and we quickly became friends.

2 years later this young man and I started dating, and not too many months later we had fallen in love. We were young which led to some breakups, but after 2 and 1/2 years we married. I am so grateful for his mother and father for bringing him into the world and teaching him the values that he holds to today. I am so grateful that his father and mother chose Hurricane of all places to move to. I guess I should say I am grateful that God led them to Hurricane of all places. I am so grateful he chose me.

He is an amazing husband, always kind, considerate, and patient with me. He is this way with everyone around him. He makes me a better person. He is an amazing father who loves his children so much.  I love and cherish each day we get to spend together. My life has been so greatly blessed because God brought the two of us together. Today, on his birthday, I want him to know how much he means to me, how much I love him, and how grateful I am that he chose me and that he chooses me everyday. He is my treasure. Because of God's love for us we can be together forever, besides living with God again, I can't imagine anything better.   

Women, the Priesthood, and practicing for perfection

The Ordain Women group (group advocating for women to be ordained to the priesthood) is at the forefront of discussion in the LDS community again as another general conference approaches (meeting of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where apostles of Jesus Christ, His chosen Prophet, and other members in general leadership positions teach and testify). My thoughts have turned to the subject of women, equality and priesthood ordination as well. The best way for me to clear my head and move on to more pressing matters such as my children, my oceanography test, my other classes, my lesson for my calling in my church on Sunday, etc, is for me to get my thoughts out in writing. 

First, I love my Heavenly Father so much. I know He lives and that He loves me. I know He has a plan for me and all His children to return to Him, receive eternal life (meaning to live with Him forever, inherit all that He has, become like Him, and continue my family relationships that I cherish so much here on earth). I know that He has provided me with everything that I need to reach my full potential. He does not hold anything back that is necessary for me to return to Him. Some may not feel this way. Many have not had the opportunity to be sealed to a spouse for eternity in the temple, but those blessings have been promised by modern prophets to those who endure faithfully to the end. He will not exclude any who have faithfully kept covenants.

Second, I love my role as co-creator, with my husband, of bodies for His spirit children and my role as a mother. One of the arguments made for priesthood ordination for women is that fatherhood is equal to motherhood, rendering motherhood a poor excuse for denying women the priesthood. However, I do not believe that fatherhood is equal to motherhood. I sacrifice 9 months to grow and carry a tiny body. I put my life at risk at the end of those 9 months pushing the now 6-7 pound baby out of my body. I sacrifice sleep for the next few months to feed the baby when he/she wakes because of hunger. My husband could sacrifice his sleep, but he can't give the baby what he/she needs so eventually I will have to get up and feed the baby. While my amazing husband spends his days working to provide for our family, I play, feed, change, cleanup after, love, and guide this little baby. We add more babies and start the routine again. When the children are grown and go to school, I get up with them to get them off to school. I am the one to greet them as they come in the door, ask about homework, and discuss what is happening in their life. I fix their food and shop for their clothes. Many text books on marriage and family relationships provide evidence that motherhood and fatherhood are not equal. Referring to families where both parents work, they discuss a second shift for women. While the discussions are mostly negative, I find it comforting to know that working moms come home and nurture, guide, and take care of their families.

I hope readers do not feel that I am putting down fatherhood. Fathers are so important in their children's lives. My children have the best father I could ask for. All I am saying is that in MY experience fatherhood and motherhood are not equal.  The priesthood authority is the great equalizer.  Men are called upon to lead their families in love and righteousness, give their infants names and blessings, bless their children when they are in need, and perform needed ordinances for them to return to live with Heavenly Father again.  I would never desire to take those opportunities away from my amazing husband.  My sister once said (and I agree) that women work with God for the salvation of His children by providing a way for them to come to earth and men work with God for the salvation of His children as they provide the needed ordinances for them to return to Him.  Each part is of equal importance.  

Next, I know that this is Christ's church restored to the earth through revelation and with His guiding hand. Revelation is sought after and received by the prophet who leads the entire church. We can pray, seek for, and receive revelation for our own lives and for those we have stewardship over. We can ask for things we need and with faith receive all that our Father wants us to have. We can petition the Lord for changes we feel are necessary. Then we wait on the Lord with patience and obedience to His laws and ordinances, showing respect for His way and timing, keeping our covenants, and supporting and sustaining His chosen prophet.  If we do not receive the answer we were hoping for, then with faith and trust continue on, enduring to the end, seeking for understanding, being "...willling to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him (us)...."  Mosiah 3:19

Lastly, my temple endowment assures me that all the blessings and power of the priesthood are mine.  For me, that is enough.  I am very happy with my church callings, with how my church is run, with my role in the church and God's kingdom, and my partnership with my husband. However, I am very aware that others have not had the same experiences I have had and who do not share my same feelings and thoughts on the subject. I know there are some who have been hurt and who need love and friendship. There are so many different members with so many different life experiences. There are some who see and feel inequality. I cannot know what has led some to feel differently than I do. I feel that my job as a follower of Christ is to be kind, gentle, meek, to speak and testify when prompted by the Holy Ghost, to serve, and to pray that they can find answers, comfort, and the love and belonging they seek. I do not often do my job well, but as I learned from a sister I look up to, I am practicing and practice makes perfect. May we all practice understanding, patience, and loving kindness, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

God Loves Gays and So Do I

Have you ever seen the signs that some people protest same-sex marriage with, you know the ones “God Hates Gays”.  These signs infuriate me. What they are in actuality saying is that “God Hates Sinners”, “God Hates People”, and finally “God Hates His Children”. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves His children and all of us are sinners except for His Son, Jesus Christ. We all are in need of redemption and saving. That is why Christ came, and He suffered and died for all sins so that all might repent and come unto Him and be saved, not just the heterosexual sinner.

So let's discuss God's given doctrines on marriage and families. First, God's plan is a family plan. The outcome of the plan is for His eternal family to gain salvation (return and live with God again) because our Heavenly Father loves all of His children. In order for this to be accomplished His spirit children need to come to earth and receive bodies.  Then, they need to choose God's plan for them, repent of sins, and love one another. A man and a woman were given pro-creative powers together, that they might create bodies for the spirit children of God. These powers are only to be used in that relationship after the man and woman have covenanted to remain together always (marriage).  Those who have not had the chance to be married for eternity are promised that those blessings, if they are righteous, will not be held back from them.

We know that the marriage God has commanded, accepts, and endorses is between a man and a woman.  Righteous husbands and wives who are not able to have children here on earth will be able to have children in the eternities. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Earthly relationship types that produce increase here will continue to do so and those that don't will not be able to. Homosexual couples cannot have increase. They cannot continue family lines, not now or in the eternities.

The scriptures teach there is opposition in all things. Same-sex marriage is the opposition to God's prescribed way, and it brings with it the opposite result. Where God's plan brings eternal increase and happiness, Satan's way brings misery.

While God loves all of His children, He desires them to follow His plan and His way.  If we choose not to follow His ways, we receive less in the eternities.

If we have chosen a different path than the one God has prescribed, there is good news, it is not too late to repent, to choose a different path, that leads back to God. If we love our gay friends and family we will show them love through service, testifying of Christ and His love for them and His eternal sacrifice for them which makes it possible for them and us to overcome weaknesses and our natural man tendencies, and repent of sins.  We will testify to them that God has a plan for them and that He wants them to return to Him.  He wants so much more for them than what bodily appetites can offer.

Brothers and sisters, I believe that there is forgiveness after we die, but not until after this: "Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection- Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).

I believe the saddest, most miserable event we could experience is our spirits returning to God and remembering who we were, what we promised to do, how much we were loved by and loved God and Jesus Christ; and knowing we did not live up to those promises, that we didn't find that love here or that we denied it, and that we went backward in our progression instead of forward. I can't imagine more weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth than what will be experienced by us if our choices here lead us to these consequences. My heart breaks for those who might experience this and I plead that I can be what I need to be that this might not be my lot. We will meet God again. Jesus' sacrifice ensures a return to His presence to be judged according to our works here.

Alma 42: 1 "And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand- which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner, for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery."
25. " What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit.  If so, God would cease to be God."
27. " Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds."
30. " O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility."

Please, don't be deceived by the great deceiver. Don't let him trap you in sin and in a relationship that has no way of continuing on. Accept God and Jesus Christ. Believe in them, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost who can guide and direct you and bring love and comfort to your soul, and endure to the end, that eternal life, increase, and happiness that you cannot even imagine can be yours. I love you, God loves you, and Christ loves you and suffered and died to save you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love: True, Pure Love

I've been thinking about the subject of love for a while now. I've wanted to blog about it, but could never really articulate what was in my heart and mind. However, while studying the general conference talks from The November 2013 Ensign, the thoughts and feelings of my mind and heart came together.

The Sunday sessions of the October 2013 General conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had diverse talks given by just as diverse speakers. Yet, there was a common theme: Love.

Many quoted or referred to the two great commandments that Christ discussed in The New Testament. The first is to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. The second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Then Christ said on these hang all the laws and the prophets.

This is how Christ lived. He loved His Heavenly Father first and foremost, and he loved his brothers and sisters. How did He show His love? He kept all of His Father's commandments and accomplished all His Father wanted Him to do. He served, blessed, helped, and taught others, eventually, giving His life for them, His willing sacrifice. He forgave the repentant, and for those who had not repented yet, he gave them time to do so.

This is what he did for the woman taken in Adultery. The leaders of the Jews wanted Him to follow the law which meant immediate death for her. Christ knew if she was to die without repentance it could mean spiritual death (eternal separation from God). When Christ asked her if any man condemned her, he was asking if there were any left desiring her life. There was none and Christ told her neither did He, but He told her to go and sin no more. Thus giving her time to repent and develop a love for God and the opportunity to keep His commandments. He wasn't giving her permission to sin more, but was giving her the needed time and chance to change. This is what God has given all of us, time to work out our salvation.

To truly love our fellow beings we need to first love the Father of us all, God. Then true love of our neighbors can be cultivated. Not permissiveness or acceptance of all that others would like to do, but the love that reaches out, teaches about the Savior's sacrifice for them and His ability to save all mankind, the love that teaches Heavenly Father's plan for them, and that teaches some things in this life will bring eternal misery and captivity, the love that teaches that no one is beyond the Savior's ability to rescue, and that all of God's children are worth the effort. This is real, true, eternal love, or as the scriptures call it: CHARITY.

Acceptance of the person is unconditional love and is essential, but we should never decide that acceptance of all that is put into the heart of man is loving them. We would never do that with our children. Most of us understand that saying “no” to some things is showing our children love. However, when it comes to society for some reason this same understanding is lost, and continually saying “yes, whatever you want” is considered love. It seems to me, essentially that we are just saying “Go, eat, drink, be merry, and do whatever you want, it makes no difference to me.”

Only, it should make every difference to us. It should make us sorrow for the struggles and the unhappiness they experience, after all “wickedness never was (is) happiness”. It should make us yearn to help them feel the love of God through His Holy Spirit. It should make us quake and tremble as it did the sons of Mosiah as we contemplate the eternal consequences. Mosiah 28:3 “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.”

We should love them continually, we should pray for them always, we should bare testimony as the spirit admonishes, and we should mourn for them and with them as they travel down their rough, troubled, and miserable paths that lead them away from their loving Heavenly Father. Last, we should hope, with an enduring hope, that they will choose to love God and His Son Jesus Christ, obey Their commandments, and that they will be able to feel the deep and abiding love that Heavenly Father and our Savior have for them.

This is not the love the world teaches, this is a deeper, more abiding love, an eternal love. This is true love, the love God wants us to have for His children. The love that compels us to reach out and to rescue our brothers and sisters.

It is my hope and prayer that we may love God with all our hearts, might, minds, and strength, thereby making it possible for us to acquire the pure love of Christ for all men. May we always reach out and rescue those in need. May we never believe that to acquiesce to others choices is greater love than bringing them to Christ, or that anyone is beyond Christ's Redeeming power or the love of God. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

Change: The Difficult Possiblity

Change is often thought of as scary, too difficult, and something we would hope others would do, but is not necessary for ourselves. It is difficult to make changes in our lives. Most of us humans fear change. It becomes easy and comfortable to tell ourselves that change is unnecessary and we are happy or, at least happy enough, just as things are. We also convince ourselves, because God loves us no matter what and knows all our struggles, temptations, and weaknesses, that He does not expect us to change. God does know us and love us. However, the idea that He does not expect us to change could not be further from the truth.

He sent us here to this imperfect, mortal world so we could become like Him and inherit all that He has. He knew we would suffer temptations of all kind. This does not mean that God made us this way, but these are just some of the challenges that come with being mortal. People suffer different temptations. Some struggle with substance addictions. Some struggle with strong sexual desires. Some struggle with a love of money and power. Some struggle with attraction to those of the same gender. I cannot list all the divers ways that we are tempted here on earth, Satan knows us well and knows how to tempt us and try us according to our weaknesses. God knew this to be true and knew that we would need help in order to accomplish His desire for us, His children, to return and live with Him again. He presented us with a plan in which we would come to earth and suffer pain, sickness, sorrow, death, and temptations. God, our loving Father, knew we would fall into temptation and make mistakes, but he prepared a way for us to repent, to overcome the sins which so easily doth beset us (Hebrews 12:1) and overcome physical death, mortality.

The way was His Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen” (2 Nephi 31:21). God loved us so He sent His Son that we might overcome our weaknesses and be perfected in Christ, through faith in Him, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then enduring to the end (2 Nephi 31:13-20). Change is difficult, but through Christ's Atoning sacrifice we can become changed, new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Mosiah 27:26).

What does God expect of us? He expects that we will not set at naught the Great and last, eternal sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son (Alma 34:10, 13-14), but that we will put off the natural man who is an enemy to God and become changed, obedient to God's commandments. “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3”19).

Oh what a glorious thought, that our loving God would send us a way to become better, become like Him and change all the things that keep us from enjoying peace and happiness. I love my Father in Heaven. I love and am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice that makes change possible. I know that God, our Eternal Father, has provided the way for us to become all that He desires us to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.